There had been a lot of discussion leading into Tuesday’s game three matchup about whether or not the Orlando Magic would be able to find “their game” against the Los Angeles Lakers. At first glance, it would seem that they found it during their 108-104 victory.
When looking over the numbers, it seems as though all of the brokenness that has been healed and the Magic are playing the kind of basketball that wins not only games, but also trophies. Hedo Turkoglu found his shot going 7-12 for 18 points and seven assists. Rashard Lewis also had another hot night going 8-14 on his way to 21 points. Then of course, the big man in the middle, Dwight Howard, scored 21 points, grabbed 14 boards, and added two blocks for good measure. All of these – great performances, but none as electric as Rafer “Skip To My Lou” Alston.
“Some of them wanted to see some Skip tonight, I gave them that.” Skip To My Lou was Alston’s playground moniker during his days of dominating Rucker Park in New York City. Skip dazzled on the court with spin moves, drives, and pinpoint accurate passes that defied reason. It was Alston’s 11 first quarter points that allowed Orlando to remain competitive in the face of Kobe doin’ work.
Although he didn’t shoot until more than six minutes of play had passed, Kobe Bryant went big in the first quarter with 17 points. He added the last four during a four point play in which he drained a three-pointer while being fouled. No not the puppet, that really happened. For those watching however, it was almost unbelievable.
“The only guy less likely to show up in a big situation is Tony Romo,” Me on Lamar Odom during my Finals Preview Column. So perhaps this is good news for Cowboys fans, because Lamar Odom has shown up in a big way. Although his stat line is not making headlines, Odom is making the kinds of plays necessary to compete with a team that shot an NBA Finals record 62% percent from the field. Despite Shooting 75% in the first half, the Magic were only up by five points.
The Lakers stayed in the game until the waning moments thanks to the play of key role-players like Odom and Pau Gasol who shot an underrated 9-11 during his path to 23 points. “If Gasol can hit at least 15 points a game, the Lakers will have a huge edge in the series,” me on what the Lakers need from their role-players. And don’t question me, everyone on that team not wearing number 24 is a role-player.
“Why can’t you be happy? The Magic won! And they played unreal well!” Well, I think Magic fans have more to worry about than they think. Do you think that the Magic can shoot 62% for four games? I don’t. Do you think Kobe will run out of gas in the second half three more times? I don’t. Do you think that Gasol scoring 16, 24, and 23 points against Orlando is acceptable? I don’t. There are real problems in the series facing the Orlando Magic.
With 2:41 to play, Gasol hit a pair of free-throws to tie the game 99-99. Down by three, 104-101, Kobe missed a free-throw. After making a defensive stop, Kobe had the ball back, within two, with 37 seconds left in the game. Dwight poked the ball out of Kobe’s hands and Gasol dove for the rebound. He secured the ball and gave it back to Kobe where it was stolen once more, this time by Mickael Pietrus. Bryant fouled and as Pietrus sank two free-throws, the game was nearly out of reach, Magic lead 106-102.
After a premature confetti celebration and a couple of Shard free-throws, the Magic claimed their first Finals victory in franchise history, Magic 108, Lakers 104.
